Anthony “Tony” Orlandi
Tony Orlandi is an experienced litigator in the areas of complex and general litigation, constitutional rights litigation, consumer rights litigation, class actions, employment law, personal injury, and product liability cases. He specializes in representing clients who have suffered harm or economic injuries through no fault of their own. His work has helped achieve multi-million dollar settlements for his clients, such as Tennessee local governments harmed by the opioid epidemic, customers of financial institutions who were assessed excessive fees, and companies and individuals bombarded with illegal junk faxes and marketing calls.
Tony has successfully argued cases in state and federal courts across the country – both at the trial court level and on appeal. He draws upon his experience and knowledge as a former federal judicial clerk for the Honorable Aleta A. Trauger in the Middle District of Tennessee (from 2011-2015) and as a former litigation associate in Boston at the law firm of Goodwin Procter (from 2006-2011).
Tony is a contributing member of the Nashville-area legal community. This includes formerly serving as a Board Member of the Nashville chapter of the Law Association for Women, currently serving as a Hearing Examiner for the Tennessee Board Professional Responsibility, and currently serving as Events Co-Chair for the Nashville Chapter of the American Constitution Society.
A graduate of Brown University, Mr. Orlandi received his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he served as editor for the Virginia Journal of Social Policy & The Law and was awarded the Earle K. Shawe Labor Relations Award. Tony lives in Nashville with his wife Emily and their two children, Aria and Alessio.
Areas of Practice
- Class Action Litigation
- Complex Civil Litigation
- Constitutional Rights Litigation
- Employment Law
- General Civil Litigation
- Telephone Consumer Protection Act Litigation
Education
- University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 2006
- Earle K. Shawe Labor Relations Award
- Editor, Virginia Journal of Law & Social Policy
- Brown University, B.A., Public Policy & American Institutions, 2003
- Phi Beta Kappa
Languages
-
English
Bar Admissions
- Tennessee, 2015
- Massachusetts, 2006
- Kentucky, 2022
- U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts, 2007
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Tennessee, 2015
- U.S. District Court Western District of Tennessee, 2015
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee, 2016
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 2016
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 2018
- U.S. District Court Western District of Arkansas, 2018
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Arkansas, 2018
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, 2023
Experience
Representative cases include:
- Duling v. Mid-America Credit Union, 521 P.3d 1145 (Kan. Ct. App. 2022): In a consumer class action against a large Midwest credit union for assessing illegal overdraft fees, Tony defeated a motion to compel arbitration in both the trial court and on appeal.
- Joshua Lipscomb v. Metro Gov’t of Nashville & Davidson Cnty., 22-0501-I (Chancery Court for Davidson Cnty., Tenn.): Represented local firefighter in achieving a $450,000 settlement of denial of free speech claims and reformation of Fire Department policies, following entry of a preliminary injunction stopping those policies as facially unconstitutional.
- Walkingstick v. Simmons, 6:19-cv-3184 (W.D. Mo.): Successfully argued for final approval for a $2.5 million class action settlement against Simmons Bank to refund challenged overdraft fees.
- Staubus, et al. v. Purdue, et al. (Sullivan County, Tenn.): Represented Northeast Tennessee local governments and a baby born drug-dependent in a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and East Tennessee pill mills, helping clients to obtain a default judgment against a manufacturer defendant and a $35 million settlement.
- Elrod v. NoTax4 Nashville, Case No. 20-cv-617, 2021 WL 1316703 (M.D. Tenn.): Along with a partnering firm, obtained class certification for recipients of unlawful prerecorded robocalls and final approval of a class settlement of over $1 million.
- Doup v. Van Tuyl Group., LLC, 2021 WL 1541552 (N.D. Tex. Apr. 19, 2021): In a class action against a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate alleging unlawful robocalls, defeated a motion to dismiss the case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
- Bryant Dunaway, et al. v. Purdue Pharma, et al., 391 F. Supp. 3d 802 (M.D. Tenn. 2019): Obtained expedited review and remand back to Tennessee state court of a lawsuit for Tennessee local governments and a baby born drug dependent against opioid manufacturers, distributors, retailers, prescribers. The ruling served as precedent for remand of other opioid lawsuits nationwide.
- Davis Neurology PA v. DoctorDirectory.com, 896 F.3d 872 (8th Cir. 2018): Represented class of junk fax recipients in vacating trial court initial dismissal order, defeating subsequent motion to dismiss, and obtaining class settlement.
- Skeete, et al. v. RePublic Schools Nashville, 3:16-cv-43, 2018 WL 2989189 (M.D. Tenn.) Served as class counsel in certified class action under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act concerning allegedly unlawful robotexts to local parents and guardians. Successfully briefed and argued class certification, defeated defense appeal to reverse certification decision, and obtained approval of a $2.2 million settlement for affected parties.
- In re New England Compounding Center Product Liability Litigation, MDL 2419, 1:13-md-02419 (D. Mass.) Represented victims of 2012 fungal meningitis catastrophe caused by the dissemination of contaminated pharmaceuticals by a Massachusetts-based compounding pharmacy that injured over 750 people nationwide and caused over 60 deaths.
- Tennessee Registry of Election Finance v. Williamson Strong, et al. (Administrative Proceeding): Conducted administrative trial and obtained dismissal of all Registry charges against five Williamson County parents improperly accused of being an unregistered political campaign committee.
- Davis Neurology, et al. v. Dental Equities, et al., Case No. 4:16-cv-00371-BSM (E.D. Ark.): Successfully petitioned for preliminary and final approval of $1.7 million class action settlement on behalf of class of recipients of unsolicited junk faxes.
Professional Honors and Activities
Memberships:
- Tennessee Bar Association
- American Constitution Society, Nashville Chapter, Events Co-Chair (Board Member)
- Phi Beta Kappa, National Chapter and Rhode Island Chapter
- Hearing Examiner, Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility
- Nashville Bar Foundation Young Leadership Forum, member of inaugural class, 2015
- Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law Program, member, 2017
- Harry Phillips American Inn of Court, Barrister, 2016 – 2020’
- Tennessee Trial Lawyers’ Association
Awards
2015
Nashville Chapter of the Law Association for Women, “Good Guy” Nominee